beeaud



(No Model.) I 2 SheetsSheet 1. G. H. BERAUD.

APPARATUS FOR OLASSIFYING AND FINISHING PEAT FIBER. No. 444,199.PatentedJam-(B, 1891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. H. BERAUD. APPARATUS POR'GLASSIFYING AND FINISHING PEAT FIBER. No.444,199. Patented Jan. 6, 1891.

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WW %MW*/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGES HENRY BEEAUD, or MAEsTEionT, HOLLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CLASSlFYlNG AND FINISHING PEAT FIBER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,199, dated January6, 1891.

Application filed May 18,1890. Serial No. 351,614. (No model.) Patentedin England June 14, 1888, No. 8,742 in Belgium March 26,1889,No.85,654;in France March 27,1889, N0.197,006; in Germany April 13, 1889, No.50,304,- in Norway June 11, 1889,1lo. 1,541; in Italy June12,1889,N0.25,640, and in Canada November 19, 1889, No. 32,867.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that GEORGES HENRY BEEAUD, manufacturer, a subject of theKing of the Belgians, residing at Maestricht, in the Kingdom of Holland,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Classifyingand Finishing Peat Fiber, (for which I have obtained patents in thefollowing countries: Great Britain, No. 8,742, bearing date June 14:,1888; France, No. 197,006, bearing date March 27, 1889; Belgium, No.85,554, bearing date March 26, 1889; Germany, No. 50,304 bearing dateApril 13, 1899; Italy, No. 25,640, bearing date June 12, 1889; Norway,No.1,541, bearing date June 11, 1889, and Canada, No. 32,867, bearingdate November 19, 1889,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the fibrous peat which is found in many partsof the world; and it has for its object an improvement in apparatus forfinishing and classifying the fibers of such peat, so that it can bespun into threads alone or in combination with wool, cotton, or otherfibrous material and converted into textile or other fabrics which canbe used for an infinite variety of purposes.

I am aware that it has already heretofore been proposed to utilize thefiber of peat in the manner described; but all attempts to so utilize ithave failed on account of the impossibility of successfully finishingand classifying the peat fiber into different degrees of length andfineness by means of the machincry and apparatus ordinarily heretoforeused.

By my improved apparatus herein described I have succeeded in treatingthe peat fiber by cleaning and separating it into different qualities,so that it can be used for spinning into threads for weaving and forother purposes. The fibrous peat is first cleaned in a beatingenginehaving arms revolving at from one thousand to two thousand revolutionsper minute, the dustpassing through a wire-gauze screen and beingcarried away by an exhausting-fan. The partial cleaning of the fiberhaving been effected in the manner described, it is then treated by arevolving toothed drum, to which it is fed over a plate or knife edge,against which the fibers are torn down by the revolving teeth of thedrum. The fiber is now reduced to a tow-like condition, and in order tofurther purify it and reduce it to a stillfiner state resembling cottonit is passed into the machine which forms the subject of my presentinvention, of which the accompanying drawings are an illustration.

Figure l is a longitudinal elevation,partly in section. Fig. 2represents detail views of the different styles of teeth I use on druma. Fig.8 is a plan,and Figs. l and 5 end views of a machine embodying myinvention.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the'differentfigures.

a is a revolving cylinder or drum not more than forty inches in diameterand having a length of about twenty-four inches. The axle of thiscylinder revolves in bearings in the frame I) of the machine, and thecylinder is provided upon its surface with rounded teeth 0, resemblingthose of a saw, as illustrated in the upper detail view in Fig. 2, theteeth being inclined forward at an angle of about fortyfive degrees,their length being about one inch and their distance apart aboutthree-quarters of an inch; or the teeth may be radial, as illustrated inthe lower detail view of Fig. 2. These teeth are riveted on the cylinderat, which is preferably of iron. The speed of the cylinder should be atleast two thousand revolutions to two thousand five hundred revolutionsper minute, and the fiber to be treated is supplied to it betweenfeeding-rollers (Z and e from the feeding-tablef.

The machine is fixed upon a suitable foundation, and under the cylinderat between the two side frames of the machine is fixed a perforateddividingplate s in such a position that any dust or refuse from thefiber falls through and behind this plate and the clean fiber itself infront of it.

9 is a blowing-fan,tl1e current of air from which is delivered with suchforce as to carry with it the cleaned fibers to a sufficient distancefrom the machine into a space forming a chamber h about thirty feetlong, which is divided at about half its height by a plate or plates t',extending nearly to the end, so as to give a course of about sixty feetto the ourrent of air which carries the fibers with it, the operationbeing assisted by an exhaustingfan or equivalent device 7;.

Z Z are openings or man-holes by which access can be had to the space inthe chamber in order to clean it and remove the fiber depos ited in it.

m is a revolving heater or set of arms by which the fiber delivered fromthe machine is thrown forward into the chamber h. The beater is shownwith a movable grating or wire'gauze 8 under it, through which dustdrops into a drawer or receptacle n beneath. The interior of thechamber, which is of wood or any other suitable material, is preferablylined with polished metal. As the fibers carried by the current of airdeposit themselves in the different parts of the chamber 71, they becomeclassified according to their relative degrees of fineness, those at thegreatest distance from the revolving arms resembling fine down, those atthe middle cotton, and those nearest to the machine being the coarsest,but fit for spinning thread of two thousand yards to the pound withoutmixture.

By means of the novel apparatus described the fiber becomes fit to beused for all the purposes for which other animal or vegetable fibers areordinarily used, and it can be worked in the ordinary spinning and othermachinery used for wool, cotton, flax, jute, or hemp. It should bepointed out that the peat fiber, being absorbent in a Very high degree,When used in place of such ordinary fibers for spinning, should only besubmitted. to the action of steam instead of to greasing by oleine, asis ordinarily done, but which would renderit too heavy and unmanageableand liable to injury. If, however, oleine or other grease is used, itsweight should not exceed fifteen per cent. of that of the fiber, whichshould be prepared with it twenty-fou r hours in advance.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

In a machine for finishing and classifying peat fiber, the combination,with the revolving toothed drum or cylinder a and rollers (l e forfeedingin the fiber, of the dividing-plate s, the fan g, the revolvingheaters or plates m, the chamber It, divided by plates t and havingopenings Z, and the exhansting-fan 7t, all arranged and operatingsubstantially as setforth and shown.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGES HENRY BERAUD.

\Vitnesses:

J. L. RATHBONE, R. J. PRESTON.

